EuroVelo 11

Labelled by some bicycle tourists as the ‘Beast of the East’, this lengthy route (approx. 6,000 km) stretches from the north-east tip of Norway all the way down to sunny Greece. The EuroVelo 11 will lead you through six extremely different capital cities; hip Helsinki, charming Vilnius, the ‘Phoenix City’ of Warsaw, the ‘White City’ of Belgrade, exciting Skopje and last but not least enchanting Athens. Give it a go and discover a favourite new destination!

The northernmost point of the EuroVelo network is here, along a 307-metre high cliff on the northern Norwegian island of Magerøya. Plan your trip and try to reach the North Cape between the 13th of May and the 29th of July and you will benefit from the Midnight Sun and from quite hot temperatures (20°C) just below the Arctic Circle - an amazing experience. Photo Credit: Yan Zhang

A truly beautiful and historic town occupies the centre of the city of Vilnius. It is one of the largest historic city centres in Europe and benefits from UNESCO World Heritage status since 1994. The city was once home to a large Jewish community and was called the “Jerusalem of the North” by the well-travelled Napoleon. Today it is the capital of Lithuania and the wealthiest city in Eastern Europe (in GDP per capita).

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and its largest city. The old town, with its brightly coloured town houses, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. There is lots to see as you move through the city, as well as its rich architectural heritage, with examples of gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical architecture, a quarter of its area is dedicated to green space.

This 800km2 area of grassland is the largest of its kind in Europe. Traditional methods of farming have been practiced in the landscape for more the 2,000 years. During this time, a harmonious relationship has established itself between human being and nature. This is a stunning example of a cultural landscape shaped by a pastoral human society that is home to more than 300 species of birds. Photo by Andrej Chudý

Jyväskylä is a small city located in the middle of the Finnish Lakeland. Upwards of 100 lakes lie in its hinterland and 25% of its area is occupied by lakes. They offer a serene background that can be explored by boat. Many activities are also on offer: you can enjoy the saunas, fishing, hiking, canoeing, riding, safaris, karting, ballooning, golfing and birdwatching. The city itself is an important educational hub. Photo by Pörrö

This extraordinary example of scientific coordination follows a similar route to that of Eurovelo 11. Between 1816 and 1855, the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve carried out a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through 10 countries and over 2,820 km. This was the first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian and helped to establish the exact size and shape of the planet. Survey points are marked by a commemorative column.

Latgalian pottery masters have earned particular acclaim for turning lumps of clay into piece of art. Look out for the annual pottery days and openings of new kilns are important events. Those interested in pottery can have a go, the ceramics masters of Latgale, the eastern province of the country, are always ready to open their studio doors to visitors and tell them about the finest details of pottery art. Photo: Latvia.travel

This cathedral is similar to any other but for one incredible detail: it was carved into salt rock. It is complete with a carving of Leonardo's "The Last Supper" and everything, including the crystals of the chandeliers, is made from rock salt. Situated in the outskirts of Krakow, the cathedral is part of 278km long salt mine opened in the 13th Century and produced table salt until as recently as 2007. Photo by Nick Moulds

Famously described as a "Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum" (wine of kings, king of wines) by Louis XV, the Tokaj wine is of international acclaim. It is quite a sweet wine that gets its flavour from grapes affected by noble rot. It is the sweet Aszú wine that is most renowned in the English speaking world as ‘Tokay’. Look out for the numerous cellars that are jotted throughout the landscape, often carved into the rock.

The Macedonian capital is a cultural microcosm of the Balkans, during the course of its history it has been Roman, Byzantine, Serbian, Romanian, Ottoman, and Yugoslav. The layers of human history in the area date back to as far as 4000BC. The diversity of ethnic groups that live there today is testimony to its turbulent past.

Estonian Song Celebration is a huge showcase of Estonian singing traditions. A 30,000 strong choir sings to a huge crowd that gathers up to 100,000 spectators at a time. This event, which is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, is only held every five years but fear not as there are many other festivals that celebrate the country’s singing tradition, including the Võru Folk and Viljandi Folk music festivals.

The castle "Fantast" located 10 km from Bečej, gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Dunđerski Bogdan was the owner of the famous castle, now known as "Fantast", pays tribute to his wealth and power. He never got married but had three great loves, women, horses and wine. He was one of the few people to build his own dream castle. Today the castle is renovated into a luxury hotel. The facility is open to the public and has a lot to offer. In the large park in French/English style, there are many walking trails, tennis courts, and a nearby lake.

Serbia’s capital city is a modern metropolis with a population of over two million. Belgrade’s position at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers has made it a strategic stopover at the crossroads of eastern and western civilizations since ancient times. Any visit to Belgrade should start with Kalemegdan Fortress, the fortress, which rests has been conquered 77 times. Photo by ...your local connection

Greece’s second city is a lively cultural hub at the crossroads of many different cultures. It is a major port and has a vibrant cultural life and is the host of a great many events throughout the year. Named after Alexander The Great’s half sister, it has changed hands a number of times, with an important Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman heritage that has left its marks in the architecture. Photo by Maria

According to Greek mythology, the site of Delphi was believed to be determined by Zeus when he sought to find the centre of his "Grandmother Earth" (Ge, Gaea, or Gaia). He sent two eagles flying from the eastern and western extremities, and the path of the eagles crossed over Delphi where the omphalos, or navel of Gaia was found. One thing is for sure, it’s spectacular. Photo by Wally Gobetz